Question

    It’s reported that the American College Board has made several changes to the SAT test to help more poor students receive higher education. It offers a scoring criterion beyond its own SAT test, which measures only oral and math skills. The new tool is designed to help admissions officers find if applicants have risen above limitations in their social or economic circumstances by expressing a particular characteristic: resourcefulness(足智多谋).

The new criterion, called ECD, has been tried by 50 colleges over the past year and will be carried out by 150 institutions this fall. Relying on public data , it looks at 15 factors(因素) in neighborhoods and schools that might passively influence a candidate’s college readiness. These statistics include crime rates, education levels, joblessness, and the family members that receive food stamps. It applicants come from a highly disadvantaged background yet have proper but perhaps not high SAT scores , a college might then admit them.

Resourcefulness shows an ability to seek support outside one’s self. It requires a clear purpose in learning. The new tool “shines a light on students who have shown remarkable resourcefulness to overcome challenges and achieve more with less,” says David Coleman, the College Board’s president.

The ECD also has the advantage of not taking race into consideration in admissions, a practice being increasingly closed off by the Supreme Court and many states. At the same time, in stressing a key quality for academic success, it may help prevent discrimination in admissions.

The tool is not an absolute measure of resourcefulness. It misses other types of circumstances, such as personal or family problems. Colleges must weigh many factors in admissions. Still, it could lead to a greater focus on character in education beyond the traditional pursuit (追求) of knowledge and career skills. Graduates who have stood out despite their hardships are highly desired by today’s employers.

1.Which people can benefit from the new criterion?

A.Students from poor families. B.Students doing well at maths.

C.Students having much money. D.Students with good spoken skills.

2.What are the new criteria when judging a candidate?

A.The attitudes to schools. B.The remarks from colleges.

C.The difficulties a candidate will face. D.The institutions a candidate will study in.

3.What is the advantage of ECD?

A.It can make applicants successful. B.It can improve the ability of races.

C.It can provide clear learning purposes. D.It can treat applicants equally.

4.Which graduates do employers prefer?

A.Those with excellent qualities.

B.Those having experienced hardships.

C.Those making progress in difficult situations.

D.Those with the traditional pursuit of knowledge.

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.D

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇新闻报道。美国大学理事会对SAT考试做了几处修改，以帮助更多的贫困学生接受高等教育。文章主要报道了这一改革的新准则、会带来的好处以及对申请人的影响。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段中It’s reported that the American College Board has made several changes to the SAT test to help more poor students receive higher education.可知据报道，美国大学理事会对SAT考试做了几处修改，以帮助更多的贫困学生接受高等教育。由此可知，来自贫困家庭的学生人能从新标准中受益。故选A。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段第一句Relying on public data, it looks at 15 factors in neighborhoods and schools that might passively influence a candidate’s college readiness.可知根据公开数据，该研究考察了社区和学校中的15个因素，这些因素可能会对候选人的大学入学准备产生消极影响。由此可知，评审候选人的新准则是候选人将面临的困难。故选C。

3.推理判断题。根据第四段最后一句At the same time, in stressing a key quality for academic success, it may help prevent discrimination in admissions.可知与此同时，通过强调学术成功的关键品质，它可能有助于防止招生中的歧视问题。由此可推知，ECD的优点是它可以平等对待申请人。故选D。

4.细节理解题。根据最后一段最后一句Graduates who have stood out despite their hardships are highly desired by today’s employers.可知尽管经历了艰难困苦但仍脱颖而出的毕业生，是当今雇主的殷切期望。由此可知，雇主更青睐那些在困境中取得进步的毕业生。故选C。